plastid

[ plas-tid ]

noun

, Cell Biology.

1. a small, double-membraned organelle of plant cells and certain protists, occurring in several varieties, as the chloroplast, and containing ribosomes, prokaryotic DNA, and, often, pigment.

plastid

/ ˈplæstɪd /

noun

1. any of various small particles in the cytoplasm of the cells of plants and some animals that contain pigments, starch, oil, protein, etc See chromoplast

plastid

/ plăs′tĭd /

1. An organelle found in the cells of plants, green algae, red algae, and certain other protists. Like mitochondria, plastids have an inner and outer membrane, and contain their own DNA and ribosomes. Some plastids, such as the chloroplasts in plant leaves, contain pigments.

Word History and Origins

Origin of plastid¹

1875–80; < German Plastide < Greek plastid-, stem of plástis, feminine derivative of plástēs modeler, creator, derivative of plássein to form

Word History and Origins

Origin of plastid¹

C19: via German from Greek plastēs sculptor, from plassein to form

Example Sentences

Unlike the plastid DNA often used to study plants, which is produced by structures called chloroplasts, the DNA from plant nuclei is especially useful for scientists trying to tease apart historical interactions between species.

From Science Daily

This finding inspired the authors to sequence the full genome of the corallicolids’ plastid, which led to another surprise.

From Nature

Any repeat families matching plastid or mitochondrial DNA were removed.

From Nature

How did the precursors to the mitochondrion and the plastid evade host defense?

From Science Magazine

It instead shows a root, and the white objects are food-storing plastids.

From Scientific American